"The Diddley" The Story of the Douglas Tavern
Donation protected
Synopsis
“The Diddley” is a documentary that aims to tell the colourful history of the Douglas Tavern. Formerly known as the Stackpole Hotels, the Douglas Tavern has been an icon of the Ottawa Valley for nearly half a century. Our goal is to share the story of the McHale family, along with the Douglas community, and to celebrate the positive impact the Douglas Tavern has had on the Valley.
Our Team:
Alex Comtois, Director / Horizon Visuals Co-Owner
Madison Ziebarth, Assistant Director
Hayley McHale, Head of Research/Creative Writer
Ryen Schaly, Technician / Horizon Visuals Co-Owner
Funding
Our Production company will be supplying the majority of the hardware to produce this documentary, but in order to make this the best product possible, we are going to need some extra equipment. Our funding goal is set at $5000.00 as this is roughly the amount we’ll need to purchase what we’re missing. As an incentive, backers of the project will have their names featured in the credits as a supporter, and receive an early digital copy of the documentary. We are also giving backers the opportunity to send in their stories and photos to be featured in the film. Please visit the “Backer Rewards” section for more info.
In the meantime, Horizon Visuals will be releasing a 3D Visual Tour of the Douglas Tavern to the public. We aim to have this available to everyone as a preservation piece.
3D Visual Tour: Coming Soon
*Please Note* This project is not for profit. All funds raised after exceeding our goal will be donated to the local food bank.
Backer Rewards
$5 Donation: Name in Credits/Early Viewing Access
$20 Donation: 300 Character Story/Well wishes | Name in Credits/Early Viewing Access
$40 Donation: Personal Photo | 600 Character Story/Well wishes | Name in Credits / Early Viewing Access
Disclaimer: Write-ups must be appropriate/acceptable for all ages. Backers will be notified if the write-up doesn’t meet the criteria.
Estimated Product Delivery Date, Summer 2021.
Please send all stories and photos here or to [email redacted] (If copy and pasting, please remove the space between @ and gmail.com)
Who’s Behind the Documentary?
Alex Comtois | Director/Horizon Visuals Co-Owner:
Over my professional career, I’ve spent a lot of time marketing and promoting local businesses, mainly in the Ottawa area. My goal when starting Horizon was to go back to my roots and use my skills to promote businesses in the Valley. When Hayley told me that the tavern had been sold and she was hoping to tell the story of it, I knew that this would be the perfect opportunity for us. Being what I like to call an “Honorary McHale” for almost the past two decades, and growing up in Douglas I know how important the Diddley is to not only the people here, but the thousands across Canada as well.
Ryen Schaly, Horizon Visuals Co-Owner/Technician:
Having been born and raised in the Ottawa Valley, as well as living in Douglas for a short time, I have grown quite attached to the Douglas Tavern. I’ve had my own great experiences in the Diddley and heard so many wonderful stories from others over the years. I am honored and humbled to be a part of cementing the legacy of the Douglas Tavern.
Madison Ziebarth, Assistant Director:
After moving back to my hometown Eganville after finishing a Bachelor’s Degree in film production at Toronto’s York University, I've been creating on large scale productions and have continued to live that fast paced life back and forth from Ottawa.
But recently hearing that the Douglas Tavern is being sold, it reminded me of my own small community. Nothing I’ve ever experienced in Toronto or Ottawa had the same feeling of being surrounded by all the people you know or the kindness of strangers with a similar upbringing. Landmarks like the Tavern are historical and a part of every Douglas resident’s story in one way or another.
Therefore, I want to use my knowledge and skills in film to create something that the community who cared for and will miss such a huge landmark of Douglas can keep and use to remember it’s significance in the future.
Hayley McHale, Head of Research/Creative Writer:
I became a bit of a history nerd a few years ago, and in my eyes the Douglas Tavern celebrations were history in the making. Myself being a young McHale, born in 1995, am so excited to work on this documentary because I missed out on a lot! From what I’ve been told the earlier years were some of the best; and I am looking forward to hearing the stories from all of the people who attended the Douglas Tavern, whether it be for St. Patrick’s Day or a different event. The more people who contribute their pictures and stories the better for us, to be able to put together this wonderful short documentary to give back to the community as something to cherish forever!
This documentary will be a tribute to not only Evelyn and Terry McHale, but also for all the family and friends who participated in St. Patrick’s Day events in Douglas. Over the years “The Diddly” earned a great reputation, and it deserves to be remembered and celebrated as a place where the St. Paddy’s Parade was born! The sense of community in the Douglas area has never changed, but in March the streets, and the Tavern are certainly seen in a different light. To me it’s more than St. Patrick’s Day celebrations; and maybe some will agree that this is the time of year when everybody gets together to celebrate the end of a long winter.
Some of the projects by our team members:
Goose
Rooted
Score Pizza Franchising Video
To learn more about Horizon Visuals, visit our website
“The Diddley” is a documentary that aims to tell the colourful history of the Douglas Tavern. Formerly known as the Stackpole Hotels, the Douglas Tavern has been an icon of the Ottawa Valley for nearly half a century. Our goal is to share the story of the McHale family, along with the Douglas community, and to celebrate the positive impact the Douglas Tavern has had on the Valley.
Our Team:
Alex Comtois, Director / Horizon Visuals Co-Owner
Madison Ziebarth, Assistant Director
Hayley McHale, Head of Research/Creative Writer
Ryen Schaly, Technician / Horizon Visuals Co-Owner
Funding
Our Production company will be supplying the majority of the hardware to produce this documentary, but in order to make this the best product possible, we are going to need some extra equipment. Our funding goal is set at $5000.00 as this is roughly the amount we’ll need to purchase what we’re missing. As an incentive, backers of the project will have their names featured in the credits as a supporter, and receive an early digital copy of the documentary. We are also giving backers the opportunity to send in their stories and photos to be featured in the film. Please visit the “Backer Rewards” section for more info.
In the meantime, Horizon Visuals will be releasing a 3D Visual Tour of the Douglas Tavern to the public. We aim to have this available to everyone as a preservation piece.
3D Visual Tour: Coming Soon
*Please Note* This project is not for profit. All funds raised after exceeding our goal will be donated to the local food bank.
Backer Rewards
$5 Donation: Name in Credits/Early Viewing Access
$20 Donation: 300 Character Story/Well wishes | Name in Credits/Early Viewing Access
$40 Donation: Personal Photo | 600 Character Story/Well wishes | Name in Credits / Early Viewing Access
Disclaimer: Write-ups must be appropriate/acceptable for all ages. Backers will be notified if the write-up doesn’t meet the criteria.
Estimated Product Delivery Date, Summer 2021.
Please send all stories and photos here or to [email redacted] (If copy and pasting, please remove the space between @ and gmail.com)
Who’s Behind the Documentary?
Alex Comtois | Director/Horizon Visuals Co-Owner:
Over my professional career, I’ve spent a lot of time marketing and promoting local businesses, mainly in the Ottawa area. My goal when starting Horizon was to go back to my roots and use my skills to promote businesses in the Valley. When Hayley told me that the tavern had been sold and she was hoping to tell the story of it, I knew that this would be the perfect opportunity for us. Being what I like to call an “Honorary McHale” for almost the past two decades, and growing up in Douglas I know how important the Diddley is to not only the people here, but the thousands across Canada as well.
Ryen Schaly, Horizon Visuals Co-Owner/Technician:
Having been born and raised in the Ottawa Valley, as well as living in Douglas for a short time, I have grown quite attached to the Douglas Tavern. I’ve had my own great experiences in the Diddley and heard so many wonderful stories from others over the years. I am honored and humbled to be a part of cementing the legacy of the Douglas Tavern.
Madison Ziebarth, Assistant Director:
After moving back to my hometown Eganville after finishing a Bachelor’s Degree in film production at Toronto’s York University, I've been creating on large scale productions and have continued to live that fast paced life back and forth from Ottawa.
But recently hearing that the Douglas Tavern is being sold, it reminded me of my own small community. Nothing I’ve ever experienced in Toronto or Ottawa had the same feeling of being surrounded by all the people you know or the kindness of strangers with a similar upbringing. Landmarks like the Tavern are historical and a part of every Douglas resident’s story in one way or another.
Therefore, I want to use my knowledge and skills in film to create something that the community who cared for and will miss such a huge landmark of Douglas can keep and use to remember it’s significance in the future.
Hayley McHale, Head of Research/Creative Writer:
I became a bit of a history nerd a few years ago, and in my eyes the Douglas Tavern celebrations were history in the making. Myself being a young McHale, born in 1995, am so excited to work on this documentary because I missed out on a lot! From what I’ve been told the earlier years were some of the best; and I am looking forward to hearing the stories from all of the people who attended the Douglas Tavern, whether it be for St. Patrick’s Day or a different event. The more people who contribute their pictures and stories the better for us, to be able to put together this wonderful short documentary to give back to the community as something to cherish forever!
This documentary will be a tribute to not only Evelyn and Terry McHale, but also for all the family and friends who participated in St. Patrick’s Day events in Douglas. Over the years “The Diddly” earned a great reputation, and it deserves to be remembered and celebrated as a place where the St. Paddy’s Parade was born! The sense of community in the Douglas area has never changed, but in March the streets, and the Tavern are certainly seen in a different light. To me it’s more than St. Patrick’s Day celebrations; and maybe some will agree that this is the time of year when everybody gets together to celebrate the end of a long winter.
Some of the projects by our team members:
Goose
Rooted
Score Pizza Franchising Video
To learn more about Horizon Visuals, visit our website
Organizer
Alex Comtois
Organizer
Douglas, ON